Our bodies have a built in natural detox system all of their own, but it never hurts to help detox your body with foods that will also promote your health. I've compiled a list of the top ten body detox foods which you can use to create recipes for your detox diet. You can eat them as part of a raw food detox diet, or juice them for a range of delicious detox drinks.
If you can afford it I would recommend you buy organic where possible, but non-organic will be fine if you're on a tight budget. Either way, these foods are fantastic for a completely natural detox diet - why not create a week long menu plan for a really health 7 day detox program?
1. The Power of Apples
Apples are a great source of vitamin C but also contain a nutrient called quercetin. Quercetin is an antioxidant that also has the power to help reduce fat and bad cholesterol levels.
They also contain pectin - a fiber that is also found in citrus fruits, beets and berries. Pectin binds to heavy metals (like lead and mercury) in the colon and helps eliminate them from your body. It also helps your body excrete food additives and toxins, including tartrazine, which has been linked to conditions such as hyperactivity, migraine and asthma, particularly in children.
2. Avocados
Avocados are a real powerhouse of nutrients - rich in folate, fiber, potassium, vitamin E and the carotenoid lutein, beta-carotene and gluthathione. Lutein may be linked to maintaining healthy eyes and vision. An avo is one of a small minority of fruits that actually contain monounsaturated fat.
As with most functions within our bodies, as we age the levels of naturally occurring glutathione start to decrease. Apart from other things, this is one of the reasons hangovers get worse in our older years - as there's not as much glutathione to help eliminate the alcohol from the drink we consumed. Increased levels of glutathione have also been shown to improve overall health and help reduce conditions such as arthritis.
3. Artichokes - A Natural Liver Detoxer
Artichokes are known to increase bile production. One of the roles of bile is to transport toxins to the bowel where they can be excreted. Recent studies have shown that eating artichokes can increase bile production by up to 127% (100% is the same as doubling) within 30 minutes of eating it.
Two of the phytochemical compounds present in artichokes are cynarin and silymarin - these have powerful antioxidant powers and are believed to help regenerate tissue growth in the liver.
4. Beetroot - A Vampires Second Worst Enemy.
Beetroot is another fat-free vegetable, with very low calorific content and very high fiber content. Throughout Europe, beetroot is seen as a powerful anti-carcinogen, and can help increase the amount of oxygen our bodies can absorb by up to 400%.
Beetroot contains methionine and betanin. Methionine helps to purify natural waste bodily waste products. Betanin works to help increase the rate at which the liver breaks down fatty acids. This action helps takes workload off the liver allowing it to fight the dangerous toxins.
5. Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, spinach and cauliflower. All these vegetables are very powerful detox foods. Brussels sprouts have been shown to inhibit the uptake of a toxin called aflatoxin, which is linked to liver cancer. Cruciferous vegetables have also neutralised nitrosamines, which are produced by cigarette smoke.
These vegetables contain a nutrient called glucosinolates, which help the liver to produce vital enzymes.